English Setter

• ExerciseHigh

  Needs a good workout or long walk every day.

• GroomingBrush a few times a week

  Brushing several times a week prevents mats.

• Living spaceHouse with room

  Does best with room to move and a yard.

• Owner experienceFor experienced owners

  Rewards owners who know the ropes.

• Commitment11–12 years

  Plan for a long, loving relationship.

Health to watch: Deafness · Hip dysplasia · Elbow dysplasia

The English Setter is the gentleman of bird dogs — speckled all over with delicate 'belton' markings, gentle, friendly and famously mellow at home while covering ground with an elegant, tireless gallop outdoors. Sweet-natured, sociable and calm, it is one of the more relaxed sporting breeds indoors and gets on beautifully with children and other dogs, but it still has real field stamina and needs substantial daily exercise and mental engagement to stay balanced. Sensitive and eager to please, it responds only to gentle, patient, positive training, and it bonds closely and dislikes being left alone for long. The long, feathered, silky coat needs brushing a couple of times a week to prevent mats, with attention to the drop ears. Health-wise, buy from a breeder who screens hips and elbows and tests hearing, and be aware of the breed's tendencies: congenital deafness (BAER-tested in puppies), hip and elbow dysplasia, and hypothyroidism. Give an English Setter plenty of exercise, gentle training and family company, keep up preventive care, and this elegant, sweet-natured gentleman will be a devoted companion for eleven to twelve years.

• How much exercise does a English Setter need?

  High. Needs a good workout or long walk every day.

• How much grooming does a English Setter need?

  Brush a few times a week. Brushing several times a week prevents mats.

• Is a English Setter suited to apartment living?

  House with room. Does best with room to move and a yard.

• Is a English Setter a good fit for first-time owners?

  For experienced owners. Rewards owners who know the ropes.

• How long do English Setter live?

  11–12 years. Plan for a long, loving relationship.

• What health issues affect the English Setter?

  Keep an eye out for Deafness, Hip dysplasia, Elbow dysplasia. These are worth raising with your vet, along with any screening they recommend.

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